We support a recent move on the part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to sign into law what amounts to a permanent prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the state.

As the Associated Press reported recently, the legislation Whitmer signed followed a state Supreme Court ruling last year that the Michigan’s Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which outlaws discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and education on the basis of sex, extended to sexual orientation as well.

That opened the door to legislative action and Whitmer’s signature last Thursday.

It ensures that the high court’s ruling cannot be reversed in the future and goes one step further in extending protections to include gender identity or expression, AP noted

It comes at a time, Whitmer said, when there’s a “nationwide assault on our LGBTQ-plus community, especially our trans neighbors, family and friends.”

“There are state legislatures across this country dedicating themselves to legalizing discrimination,” Whitmer said. “In Michigan, we will keep expanding freedoms and getting things done on the issues that actually make a difference in people’s lives.”

We agree and add, perhaps, the most distressing thing about this is that in this day and age, it’s still an issue.

Democrats took full control of the state government this year for the first time in 40 years and have worked quickly to undo decades of Republican measures, said AP.

The Michigan Legislature advanced a repeal of the state’s “right-to-work” law earlier. On Thursday, the Senate passed an 11-bill gun safety package.

Elections have consequences, as the old saying goes. We can’t help but wonder what the next is going to be.